Youth Center – first high school bike tech class in Monterey County!

The bicycle education program at the Monterey County Probation Department Youth Center, founded by Bicycling Monterey, completes its 7th year on April 15, 2019. The longevity of the bike tech class—providing bicycle repair and maintenance instruction—has only been possible because of faithful volunteers since 2012, Frank Henderson and Luciano Rodriguez.

Who’s already volunteering

Grad gifts and supplies—more ways to support the class

Follow-up for grads

About juvenile justice

Learn more: links to history of Bicycle Repair and Safety class, acknowledgements of various class supporters, and other details.

This bicycling advocacy effort is part of

an educational and treatment program for boys at

the Monterey County Probation Department Youth Center.

The boys come from all over Monterey County.

1. History of the class

For a couple years, Richard Gray, the now retired director of the Monterey County Probation Department Youth Center, had noted the benefits of bike classes at such facilities in other counties. He very much wanted to offer a bike class at the Youth Center, but couldn’t find volunteers.

On October 26, 2011, Bicycling Monterey founder Mari Lynch learned that from the director when attending a community meeting. Mari immediately set the wheels in motion, volunteering to establish this instructional program. Other volunteers— repair/maintenance instructors—and additional supporters came aboard (learn about them below). With Mari serving as coordinator, and with the cooperation and support of the Youth Center, the necessary preparations were made.

On April 15, 2012, instruction began, with regular series of classes provided through April 27, 2014, plus extra sessions for grads through July 6, 2014.

Through July 2014, Mari / Bicycling Monterey served as official provider of the Youth Center bike tech class (bicycle repair and maintenance, plus safety). Establishing and coordinating the class had taken many, many (all volunteer) hours. Although Mari would continue to provide various support—and would launch a new effort there in 2015—keeping the original bike tech class rolling would require a new class coordinator and official provider starting with the fall 2014 school term. Would the class be able to continue? Yes, thanks to the dedication of volunteer Luciano Rodriguez.

In August 2014, Luciano Rodriguez, a veteran instructor of the bike tech class since July 2012, accepted the additional responsibilities of Bicycle Class Coordinator and official provider. Veteran instructor Frank Henderson, volunteering since April 2012, continues too, including by sharing additional duties of the class coordinator since November 22, 2018 . Please contact Frank, Mari, or Luciano to see how you can help (2019 contact info provided in section 4 below)—as an assistant to the Bicycle Class Coordinator, as a Repair/Maintenance Instructor, or in other ways. Learn more below.

In October 2015, Mari launched Bike Nights at the Youth Center, which rolled on in 2016-2019. Bike Nights serve the general population of boys at the Youth Center, providing an opportunity for boys not eligible for (or for whom space isn’t available in) the bike tech class. See section 9 below for info, including details if you’d like to contribute bike swag for Bike Nights.

2. “I never saw myself doing it”

Watch a 2-min film clip from Pedal Born Pictures featuring boys not unlike many of those who are students of this class. You’ll hear, “Oh mountain biking, only a certain amount of people get to do that. I never saw myself doing it.”

Youth Center bike education can be part of supporting teens in seeing themselves anew. Their interest may be beach cruising or mountain biking, BMX or road bikes, social rides or bike commuting or racing. Whatever their interest, over the course of a series of classes, they become more aware of the variety of biking opportunities–for transportation, health, recreation, sport, career possibilities, and more. They end up knowing of many biking opportunities that most of the general public is not aware of!

Students in bike tech class also earn a bike by graduation and acquire skills to maintain and repair it themselves. Their skills will allow them to help others too.

“I bike down a new street too!”

Above: Popular muralist John Cerney added his talent to the Youth Center exit in Autumn 2013 .

3. Why volunteer with these boys?

Boys at the Youth Center are mostly ages 14 to 17, some 18. As reported by Julie Reynolds in a Monterey County Heraldstory 10/26/11, 80-90% are reported to have learning disabilities. Many have been neglected or abused. Most have been gang involved.

And they are a joy to work with!

The following quotes referred to young men involved in violence on the streets of the Monterey County seat. And it applies to many boys who came to the Youth Center, from all over the county, as well.

Bike tech class teaches repair and maintenance skills, and some bicycle law and safety instruction too. The class also helps the boys become aware of biking resources and opportunities, as it sows seeds to help them become confident of their own place in the bike community!

“The thing about young men is they want to belong. Young men uniquely want to belong to a group, to identify with a group….If [positive] options are not available, they will find another group that will…give them love, acceptance, understanding, support, and value…. [gangs, whose members say,] ‘Nobody else in society wanted you, nobody else in society supports you. But here among us, among other gang members, you will be loved and supported and gain our respect.’”–Kelly McMillin, 8/1/13 [at 3:20]

The bike community has a role to play, as part of a wider community effort, in providing Monterey County boys with far better options.

In addition, as volunteer Frank Henderson puts it, “It is amazing how one bicycle can change a student’s perception, teach them problem solving, and increase their self-confidence. As a teacher for the bike class, I attempt to teach each student how to use the bike class as a tool to be successful in education and life.”

Come teach a class and see for yourself the positive interests and abilities of these boys. Or, volunteer to help the Bicycle Class Coordinator.

If you’d like to learn more about America’s youth in detention facilities, scroll down to “About juvenile justice.”

There are many pieces to running this class successfully. Among these are volunteer recruitment, scheduling, communications with volunteers and with Youth Center staff, keeping track of parts and supplies and obtaining items as needed, and much more. An Assistant to the Bicycle Class Coordinator may help with any or all of these tasks, depending on their interest, abilities, and available time. For details, download PDF: Asst to Youth Center Bike Class Coordinator

Bicycle Repair/Maintenance Instructors

More instructors are also needed, to avoid over-scheduling the current instructors, and toward making it possible to offer the class to a larger number of students in the future.

How often are instructors needed?

Instructors are asked to be present at the first class, and if possible, at the last class too.

In addition, each instructor will typically be teaching once or twice a month, or if a guest instructor, once or twice a series.

Where? Youth Center, 970 Circle Drive, Salinas.

When? Class dates have most recently been scheduled for Saturdays, for two hours. Check with Luciano for specific dates and times.

Strictly adhere to rules about students’ privacy (including but not limited to not taking photographs of the youth, not sharing their names or their cities of past or future residence, and not sharing anecdotes—even without names—about any individual).

Have a genuine heart for youth.

Use positive, respectful communication skills.

Be sensitive to the backgrounds of these youth (e.g., many have experienced neglect, abuse, gang involvement, or been diagnosed as having learning disabilties).

Be an excellent role model.

Be committed to fulfilling typical volunteer responsibilities and keeping it fun! This includes standard things, e.g., communications with YC bike education team members, advising promptly of schedule changes, etc.

Convey respect for bike laws, such as helmets for under 18, seats for bike passengers, brakes on public streets, even if you don’t personally agree with all laws. Here’s a summary: Be Cool, Be Safe – bike law summary Acknowledging and respectfully discussing varying viewpoints is welcome and helpful to the learning process, of course. Nonetheless, it’s important to help the students know the laws, and vital there is an atmosphere in class of overall encouragement to follow the laws. Not certain you know enough about bike laws yourself? Repair teachers needn’t be experts on bike laws, as others of us can teach bike laws and safety. If you’d like to learn more, refer to Riding Skills, Safety, and CA Bike Laws.

Be supportive of safe riding practices, while also being sensitive to youth interests. For example, students cannot do bike tricks at class, and it could get them in trouble on public streets. However, while advising students of that, instructors may also share where and when bike tricks are appropriate–and what fun that can be.

And, of course, for volunteers who’ll be teaching repair/maintenance, have a sufficient level of bike repair skills!You don’t need to be licensed or a master mechanic.

For more information about the Youth Center bike tech class, see links at the end of this post.

6. Who’s already volunteering?

Two veteran volunteer Bicycle Repair and Maintenance Instructors, Frank Henderson and Luciano Rodriguez, continue in 2019. They have been with the class since April and July 2012 respectively.

Volunteer Mari Lynch also continues in 2019, now in the role of Bike Nights coordinator. She has been with the Youth Center bike ed program since launching it in April 2012.

Shout-out to the veteran

Bicycle Repair and Maintenance instructors

Learn more about Frank Henderson and Luciano Rodriguez, and other YC bike education supporters, here. Frank has volunteered with the class since April 2012, and Luciano has volunteered since July 2012.

Below, Frank Henderson

They must have a lot of free time on their hands.

Quite the contrary! When they took on this volunteer gig, Frank, Luciano, and Mari were each plenty busy. For their “real jobs,” Frank is Tutorial Services and Supplemental Instruction Coordinator, Tutor Training Instructor, and Exam Proctor at Hartnell College; Luciano is employed at Monterey County Juvenile Hall and is also a student at Hartnell College; and Mari is owner of Fine Wordworking, a writing and editing services business. And each one does other volunteering too, beyond Youth Center bike education.

So with busy schedules, why did they find it a high priority to also serve the needs of this class?

And why might you want to join them?

Reconsider the statements by Kelly McMillin above. Similarly, here’s what Monterey County Weekly editor Mary Duan suggested in a “Local Spin” about violence in our county seat: “Small actions might be the cure….” Among Mary’s ideas was “Exercise your hands” by helping teach bike repair skills at the Monterey County Youth Center.

Other reasons to help? If you are reading this post, chances are you realize there are many and varied benefits to biking! Please support the bicycle interests of these Monterey County youth, so they, too, will likely reap the benefits that biking can bring.

8. Follow-up for graduates

If Bicycling Monterey knows of a bike-related interest or need they have, we’ll do all we can to support that interest or help meet that need.

9. Bike Nights: Bicycle education for any Youth Center residents

Also continuing in 2019, Bike Nights at the Youth Center, a bike ed opportunity there also founded by Mari Lynch. Bike Nights launched Oct 30, 2015. They are occasional gatherings offered throughout the year. All boys residing at the Youth Center are welcome at Bike Nights. This provides them an introductory bike ed opportunity, even if they aren’t eligible for (or there isn’t space for them in) the Bicycle Repair and Safety class.

How can you help with Bike Night? Having bike swag can add to the fun of learning about bike laws and safety, the wide variety of bicycling activities and opportunities, and other bike ed topics. They also provide the boys a tangible reminder that people outside care about them and want to encourage them as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives.

What sort of Bike Night swag is appropriate?

No red or blue items, please. Besides bike-related items that they can use after release from the Youth Center (e.g., bike locks, helmets, pumps, reusable water bottles), the boys often appreciate the following items that they can use immediately: socks; yarn for knitting; comic books; toiletries (must be in clear container); pens and pencils; and jigsaw puzzles. Although any such items are welcome, bet some of you bike-lovers can even find bicycle-themed socks, pens, puzzles, comic books, and such.

10. About juvenile justice

Did you know…

“Eighty to 90 percent of all American teenagers in confidential interviews will acknowledge that they have committed an offense or offenses that under the law they could be locked up for. [With] most of those kids, nothing happens.”–Nell Bernstein, author of Burning Down the House

Although not specific to the Youth Center, which is a detention center focused on education and treatment, you may be interested in learning more about America’s juvenile prison system. A recommended book is Nell Bernstein’s Burning Down the House. This book is available at Monterey Public Library. If it isn’t in the library you visit, suggest your library purchase it.

What Bernstein reported about 80-90% of American teens is relevant for adolescents and those who care about them, everywhere. It’s especially important to keep in mind in neighborhoods and communities where teens are more vulnerable. Consider what this South Bronx, NY gent had to say about the need for mentors for youth; click here.

The majority of youth at the Monterey County Youth Center are Latino, as are the majority of residents of Monterey County.